My Name is Nicole Sills, I am in 9th grade and am 13 years old. I am
homeschooled and use FLVS as my school. I am currently enrolled in Biology I,
World History, Spanish I, and Geometry. I absolutely love science and my favorite
category of science is the Environmental Category. Ever since 6 th grade I have
competed at the State and International levels of Science Fair. I have represented
the State of Florida in Houston Texas for the ISWEEEP international science fair.
The purpose of my project was to see if the placement of aluminum in a test tube
creating a heat sink will affect the temperature in a terrarium. I chose this project because I wanted
to see if using some type of heat absorber would affect the temperature on the earth, therefore,
decreasing ‘Global Warming’. If my hypothesis is supported then this will benefit society as a whole
as well as the environment, through the reduction of global warming and by potentially replacing
more environmentally hazardous forms of power with ‘thermal extraction power’, as I define it.
My hypothesis states, “If a test tube containing aluminum is placed in a terrarium, then
the temperatures in the terrarium will be lower than the terrarium without the aluminum, because
aluminum is a heat absorbing metal and when inserted in the terrariums it will absorb some of the
heat, therefore, decreasing the temperature.” I chose this hypothesis because during my research I
found that aluminum is a heat absorber and if placed in a terrarium, or something of the sorts, it will
absorb some of the heat, therefore making that area cooler. Doing something like this could, in fact,
decrease global warming, and the residual effects that it will have by using this ‘thermal extraction
energy’ in the same way as geothermal energy through: direct use and district heating systems
using the hot water from the extraction basins or reservoirs; electricity generation power plants
requiring extremely hot water or steam; and thermal extraction heat pumps using stable ground or
water temperatures near the earth's surface from the extraction basins to control building
temperatures above ground, would be very beneficial and could reduce the need for other more
environmentally hazardous forms of energy.
If a test tube containing aluminum is placed in a terrarium, then
the temperatures in the terrarium will be lower than the terrarium without
the aluminum, because aluminum is a heat absorbing metal and when
inserted in the terrariums it will absorb some of the heat, therefore,
decreasing the temperature.
The insertion of a test tube containing recyclable aluminum (heat sink) may affect the
atmospheric temperature in the terrarium, acting as a heat absorber by removing heat from the
terrarium and containing it away from the atmosphere.
With levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) increasing in our atmosphere, and the observed fact
that atmospheric temperatures increase with higher levels of CO2 levels, it is possible that damage to
the earth could take place due to the global warming of our climate. Global Warming is defined as, “an
increase in the average temperature of Earth's surface.” (Michael D. Mastrandrea and Stephen H.
Schneider, 1) With adding aluminum ‘heat sinks’ in our environment and in our water ways, it may be
possible to remove some of the increased heat in our atmosphere.
Research shows that, “Since the 1800s, CO2 concentrations worldwide have increased
from approximately 280 ppm to around 365 ppm. The increase seems trivial, but it also means that
some 3 gigatons (3 billion metric tons) of CO2 are being added to the atmosphere every year. Because
CO2 is a powerful greenhouse gas, we can reasonably conclude that the earth's temperature should
go up as CO2 concentrations increase.” (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, 1)
Additionally, this same source states, “The earth's atmosphere contains trace gases, some of which
absorb heat. These gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide) are
referred to as ‘greenhouse gases’. Carbon dioxide (CO 2) is one of the greenhouse gases. It consists
of one carbon atom with an oxygen atom bonded to each side. When its atoms are bonded tightly
together, the carbon dioxide molecule can absorb infrared radiation and the molecule starts to vibrate.
Eventually, the vibrating molecule will emit the radiation again, and it will likely be absorbed by yet
another greenhouse gas molecule. This absorption-emission-absorption cycle serves to keep the heat
near the surface, effectively insulating the surface from the cold of space.” (University Corporation for
Atmospheric Research, 1)
It is stated by NOAA and NASA data, “Since the late 1800's, the global average
temperature has increased about 0.7 to 1.4 degrees F (0.4 to 0.8 degrees C). Many experts estimate
that the average temperature will rise an additional 2.5 to 10.4 degrees F (1.4 to 5.8 degrees C) by
2100. That rate of increase would be much larger than most past rates of increase.” (Michael D.
Mastrandrea and Stephen H. Schneider, 1) Data has shown, “The eight warmest years on record
(since 1850) have all occurred since 1998, with the warmest year being 2005. Most of the warming in
recent decades is very likely the result of human activities. Other aspects of the climate are also
changing such as rainfall patterns, snow and ice cover, and sea level.” (Climate Change, 1) In
addition, research states that CO2 levels have increased by 43% since the Industrial Revolution, which
occurred approximately in the years between 1760 and 1850. Before the Industrial Revolution, “the
average concentration of carbon dioxide was 260-280 parts per million (ppm). In 2008, levels hit 388
ppm, a record high.” (Are the Facts For Or Against Global Warming, 1) However, it is also stated,
“Today, CO2 concentrations worldwide average about 380 ppm. Compared to former geologic periods,
concentrations of CO2 in our atmosphere are still very small and may not have a statistically
measurable effect on global temperatures. For example, during the Ordovician Period 460 million
years ago CO2 concentrations were 4400 ppm while temperatures then were about the same as they
are today.” (Comparison of Atmospheric Temperature with CO 2 Over The Last 400,000 Years, 1)
Since there is some debate over the relationship between CO 2 and its affect on
temperature, it is reasonable to venture that either way too much CO 2, especially emitted from things
such as fossil fuels, is not good for our environment. Additionally, if it is proven that there is a direct
correlation between rising CO2 producing rising temperatures, there are many ways to reduce the
amount of CO2 being emitted into our atmosphere, but it is next to impossible to do this rapidly
enough to prevent the possible ‘heating up’ of our planet. So let’s look at how to ‘remove’ heat.
Aluminum is a heat absorbing metal. “Aluminum is considered an excellent choice for heat sinks
because it absorbs heat better than other metals.” (Randy Ricklefs, 1)
With this information, the question to be asked is would the placement of aluminum ‘heat
sinks’, of sorts, in our cities, towns and water ways reduce the slowly increasing temperature of our
atmosphere. If it is true that global warming or the “enhanced greenhouse effect” could be
detrimental to our planet, it seems to make sense to not only try to decrease the amount of CO 2, one
of the dominant greenhouse gases, in our atmosphere, but also to absorb some of the heat in our
atmosphere, thereby, creating a safer future for planet Earth.
In conclusion, placing test tubes with recyclable aluminum strips in a terrarium may affect
the temperature in the terrarium, either increasing or decreasing the atmospheric temperature. With
the purpose of this experiment to determine if the aluminum heat absorbers will reduce the
temperature in a terrarium, research predicts the use of recyclable aluminum may be beneficial to the
earth by reversing or stabilizing the temperatures in our atmosphere through the absorption of heat,
thereby, keeping our planet safe, as well as channeling that heat into other energy sources, similar to
the way geothermal energy is used.
1.Gather all your materials.
2.Place gravel in the bottom of the terrarium 2 cm deep.
3.Place a layer of activated charcoal .2 cm deep (113.4 gm) over the gravel.
4.Place a layer of sphagnum moss .5 cm deep (283.5 gm) over the activated charcoal.
5.Place a layer of Sterile potting soil, measuring 1,950 gm, 5 cm deep over the sphagnum moss.
6.Measure 3 cm in from the upper left edge of the container and 3 cm in from the left vertical edge of the
container.
7.Where those two measurements intersect, you will make a ridge in the soil forming a 5 cm x 5 cm
square with the intersecting point being the upper left hand corner of the square.
8.Dig a hole 4 cm deep into the soil following the ridges made in the soil (set aside soil to put back in
after plant is out in the hole).
9.Insert your first plant in the dug out soil and pack soil removed when digging hole around the plant
roots.
10.Repeat steps 6-9 (for second plant) measuring from the lower right edges of the container.
11.Take 237 ml of water per plant and slowly water each plant.
12.Repeat steps 6-11 19 more times.
13.Gather 6 aluminum soda cans.
14.Cut 18 strips of aluminum with a wire cutter,1.5 cm x 8 cm.
15.Gather 9 glass test tubes 17 mm X 100 mm with cap.
16.Place two strips of aluminum can (non-painted side out) in each test tube and replace caps.
17.Place test tube (heat sink) in the center of 9 of the terrariums with the flat aluminum side facing the
short ends of the terrariums.
18.Place a Controls International In/Outdoor Digital Thermo With Min/Max Memory inside all of the
terrariums, diagonal in the upper right corner (opposite of plants).
19.Take a rechargeable drill and drill a hole in the very center of each of the twenty-one container lids,
1cm in diameter.
20.Measure and cut out twenty-one 2cm diameter circles of craft foam.
21.Cut two 1.5cm long slits in center of each foam circle centered and perpendicular to each other.
22.Adhere the foam circles to the outside of the lids of the containers covering the drilled hole by
applying a thin line of hot glue to the edge of the foam circles (one foam circle per lid) and let dry for 20
minutes.
23.Put lids on 9 completed terrarium containers with test tubes, 9 completed terrariums without test
tubes.
24.Place terrariums in testing area.
25.*(SEE BELOW) In an additional terrarium without the test tube, have regular outdoor air level of CO2,
and immediately place lid on terrarium, hereinafter referred to as OD Terrarium.
26.*(SEE BELOW) In an additional terrarium without the test tube, insert air from an inflated balloon with
human air, and immediately place lid on terrarium, hereinafter referred to as BAL Terrarium.
27.**(SEE BELOW) After 10 hours insert CO2 detector into plug opening and measure the CO2 level for
each of the 20 containers, beginning with the containers OD and BAL, and moving to Trial 1 terrarium
with test tube and Trial 1 terrarium without test tube, through Trial 9 terrarium with test tube and Trial 9
terrarium without test tube. Record the CO2 level in ppm (parts per million).
28.Read the temperature on each of the digital thermometers inserted in the terrariums, recording the
data by trial, beginning with the OD and BAL. Do this rapidly.
29.After 3 days, repeat steps 27-28.
30.After 3 more days, repeat steps 27-28.
31.After 3 more days, repeat steps 27-28.
32.After 3 more days, repeat steps 27-28.
33.Upon completion of the last testing in step 32 (9 trials tested 5 times – totaling 45 trials, plus the
OD and BAL trial, analyze data, put into graph chart and create conclusion to experiment.
*These procedures are not necessary for this experiment; however, it is recommended to perform
these procedures for verification of research facts .
**These procedures are not absolutely necessary for this experiment; however, it is highly
recommended to perform these procedures to verify that the levels of CO2 are consistent
throughout all 18 terrariums (9 without test tube aluminum heat sinks and 9 with test tube aluminum
heat sinks) plus OD and BAL terrariums, therefore, making the results more accurate.
The data shows the amount of Carbon Dioxide and the temperature in each terrarium.
There were a total of five rounds of data. In each round there were two terrariums tested in each
trial, and there were nine trials. In one of the terrariums for the trials there was a test tube with two
strips of aluminum, producing the heat sink, and the other terrarium in that same trial did not have
a test tube with aluminum (heat sink). The temperature was tested in these trials for each
terrarium. In round one the median of the temperatures for the terrariums without a test tube is
44.11°C. The median for round one of the temperatures in the terrariums with a test tube is
41.61°C. In round two the median of the temperatures in the terrariums without a test tube is
34.72°C. In round two the median for the terrariums with the test tube is 33.88°C. In round three
the median for the temperatures in the terrarium without test tubes is 33.0°C. The median for
round three of the temperatures in the terrarium with the test tube is 32.22°C. The median for
round four of the temperatures in the terrarium without the test tube is 28.72°C. The median for
round four of the temperatures in the terrarium with the test tube is 27.88°C. The median for round
five of the temperatures in the terrarium without the test tube is 25.72°C. The median for round
five of the temperatures in the terrarium with the test tube is 24.38°C. For this project a mode is
not really possible because of my varying numbers. In some rounds there is a number repeated
once or twice.
In round one the average of the temperatures for the terrariums without a test tube is
44.21°C. In round one the average of the temperatures for the terrariums with a test tube is
41.71°C. In round two the average of the temperatures for the terrariums without a test tube is
34.61°C. In round two the average of the temperatures for the terrariums with a test tube is
33.83°C. In round three the average of the temperatures for the terrariums without a test tube is
33.06°C. In round three the average of the temperatures for the terrariums with a test tube is
31.57°C. In round four the average of the temperatures for the terrariums without a test tube is
28.94°C. In round four the average of the temperatures for the terrariums with a test tube is
28.08°C. In round five the average of the temperatures for the terrariums without a test tube is
25.95°C. In round five the average of the temperatures for the terrariums with a test tube is
23.77°C. In the experiment, there really was no controlled variable, but the use of the temperatures
in the terrariums without a test tube could be considered the controlled, and for the purposes of this
experiment, this is being used.
To further solidify my research, an “extra” experiment was done during the same time
frame as the regular experiment. I took two terrariums both without test tubes, but containing all the
other components of the other terrariums, and in one I put in exhaled human air that was blown into
a balloon, which contains approximately 40,000ppm of carbon dioxide, and one terrarium I just used
outside air, which contains approximately 350ppm of carbon dioxide. I did this to see if the much
higher levels of carbon dioxide would produce much higher temperatures, as some of my research
indicated. To further this test, I also tested the levels of carbon dioxide in each of the terrariums to
determine if this is really true. Although this experiment is measuring the temperatures in the
terrariums with and without the test tubes with aluminum (heat sinks), I felt it was necessary to see
if the higher levels of carbon dioxide actually produced higher temperatures. This data is included
with all the experiment information but not detailed in this data analysis, in order to keep the
experiment focused on its intended goal of determining if a heat sink will affect the temperature in
the terrariums.
Something that could have affected the results is the weather. Some days it was cloudy
and some days it was sunny, therefore, making the temperature ranges between rounds of testing
quite different, although all the trials would be experiencing the same conditions. Something else
that could not be controlled during the testing was how big the plants grew, which can also affect
levels of carbon dioxide. Some of the plants did grow larger than others, so the Carbon Dioxide
detector pump had to be carefully placed to be positioned correctly. What I noticed within the
trials from Round 1 was this was a sunny hot day, thereby, producing very high temperatures in
each terrarium, yet the CO2 didn’t seem to be dramatically higher than the other rounds. I also
noticed that Rounds 2, 3 and 4 had much higher CO2 levels, which had me thinking that as the
plants grew, the CO2 levels were increasing. However, then Round 5 came along and the CO2
levels were much lower, the lowest in all 5 Rounds, and the temperatures were the lowest as
well.
Taking all of these factors into consideration, all of my data and results are conclusive
and accurate.
In my hypothesis I stated that the terrariums with recyclable aluminum heat sinks would
have a lower temperature because research shows that aluminum is a heat absorbing metal, so the
aluminum heat sinks would absorb some of the heat in the terrarium. Out of the 45 tests done, my
hypothesis was supported 93.33% of the time. Twice in trial 5 my hypothesis was not supported and
once in trial 7 my hypothesis was not supported, as the temperatures in those 3 tests were higher in
the terrariums with the aluminum heat sinks than in the terrariums without the aluminum heat sinks.
However, the averages produced 100% accuracy supporting my hypothesis that the temperatures in
the terrariums with the heat sinks were lower by almost 5%.
One of the things I found interesting though was the carbon dioxide levels weren’t
necessarily higher in the terrariums with higher temperatures. According to much of my research, this
should have occurred. Especially since I tested in a small environment, the terrarium, I would have
thought this would have been even more visible.
Some ideas for a future experiment would be to study the levels of carbon dioxide in the
terrariums with varying temperatures and determine if carbon dioxide levels do in fact affect the
temperature in our environment. Although I did record this information, further study would be
interesting, because according to my data, on average, the levels of CO2 in the terrariums with the
lower temperatures (the terrariums without the heat sinks) were higher than the levels of CO2 in the
terrariums with the higher temperatures (the terrariums with the heat sinks). Another possibility would
be to perform the experiment in a green house type of atmosphere. Future experimentation could
include putting a thermometer inside the heat sink test tube to get better results and see just how hot
the heat sinks actually get. Ideally, if scientists placed some aluminum heat sinks in various places to
see if it helps reduce the temperatures in those areas, even if it only helps a little, it could be a little
step towards something big. Additionally, the benefits of ‘thermal extraction energy’
power (as I call it) produced by using the heat ‘collected’ by the heat sinks, as in the use of
geothermal energy, could prove to be quite favorable.
My project, I believe was very accurate because I used extremely accurate, digital
thermometers that gave me very precise readings. My project relates to real world because it might
help reduce global warming and the negative effects it potentially has on our environment.
Additionally the heat gathered by the heat sinks could potentially be funneled to other resources to
heat our homes and businesses, all the while utilizing recycled materials – the aluminum.
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The people who were instrumental in helping me to complete an accurate and
successful experiment are my mother, Tammy Young, who helped me with photographs,
proofreading, the construction and assembly of my presentation, and assisted with the dangerous
parts of the experiment. My brother, Daniel Sills, helped me with photographs. Ron Roberson
from Sensidyne, Inc., provided me with the CO2 detector and the detector tubes, as well as
allowing me to interview him to understand more about CO2 and its affect on temperature.